Carriage for breech-loadin guns.



-G. T. BUCKHAM & F. SMITH.

CARRIAGE FOR BREECH LOADING GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. I915- Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Q: w TBOpKAa/n 7 F a 0/6 Spa/2% 452w G. T. BUCKHAM & F. SMITH. CARRMGE FOR BREECH LOADING sums.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. I915.

G. T. BUCKHAM & F. SMITH. CARRIAGE FOR BREECH LOADING GUNS.

Patented Dec. 81, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 19L;-

GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON,

AND FRANK SIJIITH, OF

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOBS T0 VIOKERS LIMITED, OF WEST- MIN STER, ENGLAND.

CARRIAGE FOR BREECH-LOADING GUNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed October 9, 1915. Serial No. 55,123.

To all whom it may concern Be it known I that We, GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM and FRANK SMITH, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing, respectively, at Vickers House, Broadway, Westminster, in the county of London, England, and Pelham street, Wolverhampton, in the county of Stafford, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Carriages for Breecl1-Loading Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cycle side cars adapted to serve as carriages for automatic and quick-firing guns.

According to the invention the gun is carried by an arm or bracket connected to the side car framework in such a manner that the said arm or bracket can be swung into a position for enabling the gun to be fired in a forward direction or into a position for enabling the gun to be fired in a rearward direction as desired. The seat for the gunner may also be connected to the said arm or bracket so that it moves during the adjustment of the gun to either of its aforesaid positions. The arm or bracket is preferably inclined to the vertical and it may then be come necessary to raise it, during the swinging movement, in order to clear the framework of the side car and the cycle to which the side car is attached. For this purpose the arm or bracket may be pivotally mounted on a turntable or other support movable about a vertical or approximately vertical axis and preferably carried by the side car framework at a position approximately midway between its ends. The gunners seat may also require to be raised and it would then be connected to the turntable in a similar manner. The arm or bracket and the pillar or arm carrying the seat may be connected together in such a manner that the raising of the arm or bracket lifts the seat. When the gun has been adjusted to fire in either the forward or the rearward direction as aforesaid, it is supported in the firing position by a suitable portion of the side car framework without being disconnected from the aforesaid arm or bracket. Then the gun has a tripod mounting as is usually the case with automatic guns, the gun together with the tripod mounting in its folded condition may be detachably con nected to the arm or bracket. Should occasion arise the gun and its mounting can be removed from the side car and used on the ground in the ordinary manner.

An ammunition box and foot-rests for the gunner may be so fixed to the aforesaid arm or bracket as to follow the gun in its swinging movement.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which r- Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section showing the gun and the gunners seat in position on the side car for forward firing; the gun illustrated is of the Maxim type with a. tripod mounting, the gun and mounting being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan but with the gun and its tripod mounting together with the gunners seat removed to show certain parts more-clearly.-

Fig. 3 is a View corresponding to Fig. 1 but with the gun and gunners seat in position for rearward firing, part only of the gun being shown in broken lines.

A is the gun which, together with its tripod, is mounted on the bed plate B forming part of the inclined arm or bracket C. The said arm or bracket is provided with an enlarged portion or foot (3* which has a sleeve C surrounding a horizontal transverse stationary pivot pin D carried by the turntable E. The turntable has a vertical pivot F mounted in a bearing G carried by and located in front of the junction piece H which connects together the cross members a b 0 of the side car chassis or framework. In the embodiment shown the chassis comprises lower side tubular members d d and upper curved side tubular members 6 0, together with upper transverse tubular members f f and lower transverse tubular members 9 g. The upper transverse members f f at the front and rear of the chassis carry bosses or collars h h between which the seating B of the bed plate B is adapted to rest in either of its two positions so as to prevent lateral movement thereof. The underface B of the seating B is curved to enable it to rest firmly on the transverse member f. The upper side members 6 are rigidly secured to the lower side members d of the chassis by V (which may be of any appropriate construc- 7 rests tion) has a part K by which it is connected to an arm J which is pivotally mounted at its inner end on a transverse pin I carried by sockets e e forming part of the turntable E. The said arm J also carries at its outer extremity a block M which has a curved underface M so that the block rests securely on the tubular member 0 of the chassis when the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 1 for forward firing. A

transverse groove M is also formed in the block M adapted to engage the lower transverse tubular member 9 when the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 3for rears Ward firing. The said enlarged portion or foot C of the arm or bracket C carries a short arm or extension Ofihaving a forked extremity P which engages a pm N carried by a pair of lugs N, N forming part of the inner end of the said arm J. Owing to this arrangement it will be apparent that when the arm or bracket C is turned up ward about the transverse pin D, the arm J will also be turned upward about the pin I clear of the chassis, so that turntable E can be turned about the bearing G in order to swing the gun and seat from the forward to the rearward position or vice versa.

Pivotally connected at P to the bed plate seating B are a pair of foot-rests P for the gunner. The said foot-rests are adapted to be raised about the pivotal connection P before the gun and gunners seat are operated and for this purpose the said footare connected by means of hinged links 9' 12 p to collars p 19 carried bythe arm or bracket C. The link 12 is slidably mounted in a bearing provided in the said collar 10 and is adapted to be held normally in a fixed position by means of a wing nut By loosening the nut 12 the foot-rests can be raised, the link 10 sliding in the bearing in the collar p and being secured by means of the nut 29 so as to hold the footrests in the raised position. a

T e a e K i h ail m mber 76 o the gun tripod is adapted to be supported by a pair of resilient blocks or buffers 70 fitted to the foot C", carried by the turntable E. The other two legs7c 70 ofrthe tripod may be connected to the trail member by straps or the like. 7

An ammunition tray Q, and an upper shield R are attached to the bed plate B and are adapted to be swung about the bearing G simultaneously with the gun and tripod, the seat and the foot-rests. Alower shield S is also provided to protect the gun- 9 which is curved at to fit closely around and depressing the pin N on the arm J,

ner when firing in a forward direction. The foot-rests P areprovided with a flange its upper end 9 so as beneath one or other of the transverse members 7 f when the foot-rests occupy their normal position and thus lock the bed plate firmly in place at the front or the rear of the chassis.

The side car is attached to the cycle in the usual manner by means of attachment members, part of one of these members being shown at T in Fig. 2.

In swinging the gun from the front position shown by Fig. 1 to the rear position 7 shown by Fig. 3 the root-rests P are first raised and secured in their raised position. The act of raising the foot-rests'disengages the curved end 9' of the flange 9 from the transverse member f so that the bed plate can be raised in a vertical plane by turning the arm or bracket C around the horizontal axis or pivot pin D. The act of turning the arm or bracket around the pivot pin D actuates the bifurcated arm 0, which by causes the latter to turn upwardly about the axis pin I and elevate the gunners seat. the gun and gunners seat have been raised to an extent sufiicient to clear the side car and the cycle, the gun and its tripod together with the gunners seat, the foot-rests, the ammunition box and the upper shield can be swung around-the vertical axis or pivot G in a horizontal plane by means of the turntable B, so as to bring the gun intothe' rear position shown by Fig. 3. The armor When bracket is then depressed to lower the bed plate onto the upper end member fbetween the bosses or col ars h, h, the arm J. and the gunners seat being simultaneously depressed to bring the block M on the arm J into engagement with the transverse member 9 of the cycle car framework, The nut p is then released and the foot-rests lowered. The curved end 9' of the flange q thereupon engages beneath the upper end member f and locks the bed plate B firmly in position, whereupon the gun is ready for rearward firing.

We wish it to be understood that although we have described the embodiment of our inventioninconnectionvvith a Maxim gun having a tripod mounting, the gun maybe of any other type and if desired may be permanently attachedto the aforesaid swinging arm or racket C. i

What we claim and desire to secure'by connecting said arm or bracket to the cycle if framework in such manner that the gun can be swung 1nto a posltion where it can be fired n a forward direct on or into a pos tion where it can be fired in a rearward direction, and means for supporting said arm or bracket in one or other of two positlons,

in a forward direction or into a position where it can be fired in a rearward direction, meansfor supporting said arm or bracket in one or other of two positions, said means being disposed at the front and at the rear of the side car, a gunners seat, and means for connecting said seat to said arm or bracket in such manner that during the adjustment of the gun for forward or rearward firing the gunners seat will move simultaneously therewith.

3. A cycle side car comprising an arm or bracket, an automatic or quick firing gun carried by said arm or bracket, means for connecting said arm or bracket to the cycle framework in such manner that the gun can be swung into a position where it can be fired in a forward direction or into a position where it can be fired in a rearward direction, a gunners seat, means for connecting said seat to said arm in such manner that during the adjustmentof the gun for forward or rearward firing the gunners seat will move simultaneously therewith, and footrests for the gunner connected to said arm or bracket so as to participate in its movements.

4. A cycle side car comprising an arm or bracket, an automatic or quick firing gun carried by said arm or bracket, means for connecting said arm or bracket to the cycle framework in such manner that the gun can be swung into a position where it can be fired in a forward direction or into a position where it can be fired in a rearward direction, a gunners seat, means for connecting said seat to said arm in such manner that during the adjustment of the gun for forward or rearward firing the gunners seat will move simultaneously therewith, footrests for the gunner hinged to said arm or bracket and means for adjusting said footrests relatively to this arm or bracket.

5. A cycle side car comprising an arm or bracket, an automatic or quick firing gun carried by said arm or bracket, means for connecting said arm or bracket to the cycle framework in such manner that the gun can be swung into a position where it can be fired in a forward direction or into a position where it can be fired in a rearward direction, a gunners seat, means for connecting said seat to said arm or bracket in such manner that during the adjustment of the gun with,

gunners seat will for forward or rearward firing the gunners seat will move simultaneously therefoot-rests for the gunner, and a shield for the gunner, said foot-rests and said shield being connected to said arm or bracket so as to participate in its movements.

6. A cycle side car comprising an arm or bracket, an automatic or quick firing gun together with its tripod mounting carried by said armor bracket, and means for connectlng said arm or bracket to the cycle framework in such manner that the sald gun and its tripod mounting can be swung on' said arm or bracket into a position where it can be fired in a forward direction or mto a position where it can be fired 111 a rearward direction.

7. A cycle side car comprising an arm or bracket, an automatic or quick firing gun together with its tripod mounting carried by said arm or bracket, means for connecting said arm or bracket to the cycle framework in such manner that the said gun and its tripod mounting can be swung on said arm or bracket into a position where it can be fired in a forward direction or into a pos1- tion where it can be fired in a rearward direction, a gunners seat, and mean for connecting said seat to said arm or bracket in such manner that during the adjustment of the gun for forward or rearward firing the move simultaneously therewith.

8. A cycle side car comprising an arm or bracket, an automatic or quick firing gun together with its tripod mounting carried by said arm or bracket, means for connecting said arm or bracket to the cycle framework in such manner that the said gun and its tripod mounting can be swung into a position where it can be fired in a forward direetion 01- into a osition where it can be fired in a rearward direction, a gunners seat, means for connecting said seat to said arm or bracket in such manner that during the adjustment of the gun for forward or rearward firing the gunners seat will move simultaneously therewith, foot-rests for the gunner, and a hield for the gunner, said foot-rests and said shield being connected to said arm or bracket so as to participate in its movement.

9. A cycle side car having an arm or bracket carried by the side car chassis and capable of swinging from frontto rear of the side car, an automatic or quick firing gun carried by said arm or bracket, footrests for the gunner connected to the said arm or bracket, and means carried by said foot-rests for rigidly securing the said arm or bracket to the side car chassis.

10. A cycle side car having an arm or bracket carried by the side car chassis and capable of swinging from front to rear of the side car, an automatic or quick firing i gun carried: by said arm or bracket, footrests for the gunner connected to the'said arm or bracket, means carried by said footrests for rigidly securing the said arm or bracket to the side car chassis, a gunners seat, and means for connecting said seat to said arm or bracket so that said seat Will move simultaneously therewith. 11. A cycle side car having a support carried by the side car framework,.saidsupport being capable of swinging about a Vertical axis, a horizontal axis pin carried by said support, an inclined arm or bracket adapted to swing about said horizontal axis pin, an automatic or quick firing gun carriedby said inclined arm or bracket, and means forming part of the side car framework for rigidl supporting either at the car.

front or at the rear of the side A cycle side car having a supportcan ried by the side car frame Work said support said inclined arm or bracket said inclined armor bracket abgut its horizontal axis pin, and'means forming part of the side. car framework for rigidly supporting said inclined arm or bracket either at thefront or at the rear of the side car.

In testimony whereof We affix our signaturesin the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE THOMAS BUGKHAM.

FRANK SMITH.

Witnesses:

JNO. R. CASWE v GLAD, YS M. BARBER.

' Copies of this patent may be obtained'for live cents fiachgby addressing the Commissioner offatents, 'Washington, 1). G. I a V V about a horizontal ai xis simultaneously with the movement of the 

